Samsung KS8000 is part Samsung’s 2016 SUHD TV lineup Series 8 that comes with flat panel while Sony X930D series is the top model of Sony’s 2016 X series. Both of them are serious HDR TVs which come with Ultra HD premium Certification that means, both of them can display HDR 10 fully. But unlike Vizio and LG HDR TV where they support both HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, X930D and KS800 support HDR 10 only. In other hand, the major difference between them is about 3D technology where X930D is powered by active 3D technology while KS8000 is not equipped with 3D technology. Please click here to know a lot about KS8000 or click here to know a lot about X930D.

X930D series is available in 55 Inch, 65 Inch, and 75 Inch while KS8000 series is available in 49 Inch, 55 Inch, 60 Inch, and 65 Inch. We can see the sizes which are equally available in both are only 55 Inch and 65 Inch while other sizes are only available in one of them. And of course, this comparison is only applicable for 55 Inch (XBR55X930D vs UN55KS8000) and 65 Inch (XBR65X930D vs UN65KS8000). Overall, whether it is for 55 inch and 65 Inch, Sony X930D series is sold more expensive than KS8000. For 55 Inch, their difference in price is about $200 while for 65 Inch their difference in price is about $400. But of course these prices are not fixed and still could change at any time. So, which is superior and a better choice between them?

Picture Quality

Picture quality is the main advantage of both especially when displaying HDR 10 contents. This is indicated by Ultra HD Premium Label behind them. As we know, Ultra HD Premium certification is an award for a TV that meets all standardization of HDR 10 and can display HDR 10 contents fully. With Ultra HD Premium Certification behind them, can be ascertained that HDR picture that offered by them is absolutely amazing. So the question, which superior is between them? Let’s discuss side by side about their performance.

In term of black level, Samsung KS8000 reach about 0.016 nits of black level with about 6900:1 of native contrast ratio while Sony X930D reach about 0.035 nits of black level with about 2800:1 of contrast ratio. This shows KS8000 series offers deeper black level and stronger contrast than X930D series. Additionally, KS8000 also offers better black uniformity than X930D that makes a whole the screen of KS8000 looks more uniform. Because black level and contrast is one of the most important aspects of picture quality, this certainly makes the picture that displayed on the screen of KS8000 looks slight better than displayed on the screen of X930D series. Additionally, with deeper black level and stronger contrast, details of the images in dark scenes or shadows will be revealed more on the screen of KS8000 than X930D, no matter they are displaying HDR or SDR contents. But even so, what reached by X930D series also cannot be said badly. As the note, for displaying HDR contents fully, a TV must reach about 0.05 nits or lower of black level. This means what reached by X930D series is good, at least it is still lower than 0.05 nits required for displaying HDR 10 fully, so there will not issue on contrast and black level when it is displaying HDR contents.

Since HDR technology come on TVs, peak brightness becomes one of the most important aspects of picture quality especially when they are displaying HDR contents. For this case, Samsung KS8000 reaches about 1500 nits of peak brightness 2% window while X930D series reaches its peak brightness at 1050 nit also on 2% window. Nevertheless, on 50% and 100% window, X930D offers slight brighter peak brightness with about 550-600 nits than KS8000 with about 500 nits. This means what offered by them exceeds 1000 nits as the minimum standardization of HDR 10 for peak brightness. With other words, when displaying HDR 10 contents, there will not issues on peak brightness. Additionally, with the bright peak brightness reached by them, this also will make the quality of the picture will look more consistent in a bright room with a lot of windows when they are displaying SDR contents, even or the area that highlighted by the light directly.

DCI P3 vs REC 2020 Color Gamut

Moving on color performance, Samsung KS8000 is powered by Quantum dot technology with true 10 bit panel while Sony X930D is powered by TriLuminos display also with true 10 bit panel. With these technologies behind them, KS8000 series can cover about 96% of DCI P3 color space while X930D series cover about 93% of DCI P3 color space. This means KS8000 can deliver slightly wider color gamut than X930D series. Meanwhile, for displaying HDR 10 contents fully, an HDR TV must cover at least 90% of DCI P3 color space. From color specs that can be reached by them we can see both of them can cover more than minimum color gamut required by HDR 10 and course this will no issue on color when they are displaying HDR 10 contents. In other hand, although both of them already supports 10 bit depth of color that means they can deliver about 1.07 billion shades of color, color gradient of the picture produced by X930D looks slightly smoother than KS8000. Color gradient of the picture produced by X930D is perfect while for KS8000, reds looks slight inconsistently.

For most of people with untrained eyes, picture produced by them is equally amazing. Both of them equally offer deep black level, strong contrast, bright peak brightness, wide color gamut, and smooth color gradient. But from all display specs offered by the, the excepting of color gradient, Samsung KS8000 offers slight better performance than Samsung X930D series. This means, overall, KS8000 offers slight better picture quality than X930D, no matter when they are displaying SDR or HDR contents. Nevertheless if you are searching serious TV with great HDR performance and stunning picture quality, of course, you can include them in your list.

Winner: Samsung KS8000

Viewing Angle

Both of them use VA panel as their panel technology and we all know, poor viewing angle is one of downsides of VA panel. Nevertheless, although both of the equally use VA panel and equally have poor viewing angle, KS8000 series offers slightly better viewing angle than X930D. As the note, on the screen of KS8000, the quality of the picture will begin to deteriorate at 20 degrees off center and front while on the screen of X930D, the quality of the picture will begin to deteriorate at 16 degrees. Compared to other LED TVS that use IPS Panel, their performance certainly is very poor. Therefore, you must set your seats in such away so they are center and in front of the screen if you want to get the best viewing.

Winner: Samsung KS8000

UHD Up-scaling

Both Samsung KS8000 and Son X930D equally offer great performance UHD Up-scaling Engine. As we know, because most of the contents that available in the market still have lower resolution than 4K, of course its role is still very important. No matter the resolution of the sources, they are displaying sharply in 4K quality. 480p contents like DVDs movies look very good in 4K quality once they are up-scaled. Additionally, 720p contents like video contents from Cable TV are up-scaled very well in 4K quality. Let alone if the sources are 1080p like contents from Blu-Ray, the final images produced looks very sharp with small details prevented very well. Nevertheless, for this case, X930D series offers slight better performance than KS8000 especially when up-scaling lower resolution contents like 480p.

Winner: Sony X930D

Motion Handling

When handling motion blur and playing 24p videos, Samsung KS8000 is powered by Motion rate 240 technology while Sony X930D is powered by Motion Flow XR960 technology. Both of these technologies are based on native 120 Hz refresh rate panel. Nevertheless, although both of them equally use native 120 Hz refresh rate panel, X930D offers faster pixel response time than KS8000. This means when they are displaying fast moving images like sports program or fast games, X930D series offers better performance. On the screen of X930D, there is virtually no motion blur following the fast moving objects while on the screen KS8000, the trail following fast moving objects is slight noticeable. Nevertheless, what offered by KS8000 is still very good and much better than 60 Hz TV. Meanwhile, when they are displaying 24p contents, no matter it is native 24p like movies from Blu Ray, 24p via 60i signal like movies from Satellite TVs, or 24p via 60p like movies from streaming media, both of them equally offers perfect performance. This means, there is no judder when they displaying them. To get judder-free without add “soap opera effect”, for X930D, you must set “CineMotion and True Cinema” to high while for KS8000, you must set Auto Motion Plus’ to ‘Custom’ and both sliders to 0 on their picture setting.

Winner: Sony X930D

3D performance

Because Samsung KS8000 is not equipped with 3D technology, there is nothing to be compared. Nevertheless, talking about 3D performance offered by X930D series, what offered is really great. Like that happens to all 3D TVs, the picture will look dim once 3D is engaged. So, when you are watching 3D images, you should increase “brightness” on picture setting. The result, 3D images produced looks very good with depth of 3D images is very noticeable. Additionally, because it uses active 3D technology, this ensures each of eyes receive full resolution of 3D images. In other hand, although active 3D is not as comfortable to watch as passive 3D, 3D picture that produced is free from crosstalk and flicker. Of course, this very good considering crosstalk and flicker are the downside of active 3D. But unfortunately, there are no active 3D glasses included in the box, so if you want to watch 3D movies, you must buy active 3D glasses separately where their price is not as cheap as passive 3D glasses. Additionally, unlike LG 3D TVs that have 2D to 3D converter, there is no converter on X930D series, so to enjoy 3D movies, the sources also must be mastered in 3D.

Winner: Sony X930D

Input/Output

Samsung KS8000 and Sony X930D series are equally equipped with 4 HDMI Ports and 3 USB Ports as their major connectivity. Additionally, there are also RF In (Antenna In), Ethernet, and Digital Audio out (Optical) behind them. A bit difference is about AV in (Composite In) and Component In where KS8000 is not equipped with these inputs while X930D is equipped with these inputs. The other difference is where these ports are located. For X930D, all of the inputs/outputs ports are located on the rear or side of the panel while For KS8000, All HDMI pots, 2 USB Ports, and RF (Antenna In) are located on separated box called “ne Connect Box”. Despite it is takes its own space for placing, but in other hand, it give a benefit when there is firmware update in future especially for the firmware of HDMI ports so you just need to upgrade this box without change a TV. Talking about input lag of their HDMI, overall, KS8000 has lower input lag than X930D on both 1080p and 4K sources. This mean, KS8000 is great TV for both 1080p and 4K games even for competitive games require fast reflexes. Meanwhile, for X930D, although it is not as low as the input lag of KS8000, the input lag of X930D on 1080p source is still low and good enough for casual games while under 4K resolution, its input lag is still too high even for casual games.

Samsung One Connect Box

Winner: Samsung KS8000

Sound Quality

As we see on comparison table above, Samsung KS8000 is equipped with 2.1 channel speaker system with 40 watts total sound output while X930D is equipped with 4.0 channel speaker system with 30 watts total sound outputs. The result, KS8000 sound quality with decent frequency response with bass is fairly steady. In other hand, frequency response of sound of X930D is very poorwith almost no bass at all. This is indicated sound quality of KS8000 is better than X930D. But in high volume, there will be noticeable pumping and compression on the sound that produced by them. Nevertheless, for you who care about sound quality, of course what offered by them is not quite enough and you still need an additional sound bar for improving their sound quality.

Winner: Samsung KS8000

Smart TV

Talking about smart TV, both of them equally feature attractive smart TV platform, KS8000 comes with Tizen OS while X930D comes with Google Android TVs. Both of these platforms equally come with intuitive and attractive layout design. Nevertheless, about simplicity, Tizen OS is simpler and navigating between menus is also more straightforward. In other hand, although people might already familiar with Android OS on their Android Smart Phone, on android TV, the navigating menus is a bit confusing. But even so, about their performance, both of these OS equally offer fast and responsive performance. Once an app is launched, a loading time is very quick. As well as when you are selecting between apps, it will be felt very responsive. Additionally, both of them also provided tons of interesting apps. Most popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, HuluPLus, and other are provided by them. They also provide Web Browser, Contents Store that allows you to download tons of apps and contents, Cloud Game Service like PlayStation Now, and many more.

Samsung Tizen OS

Sony Android TV

As the controller, Samsung KS8000 is equipped with Smart Controller. Unlike last year model, it is designed simply and more comfortable to use. The buttons is minimalist without “number buttons”. Additionally, there is no “point and click”, but even so, this remote is still equipped with built-in microphone for voice commands and also can be served as universal remote. Meanwhile, Sony X930D is equipped with Sony Voice remote on the box. Like Samsung’s Remote, there is also voice command functions but without pointer. The difference, there are a lot of buttons including the”number buttons”. X930D series is also equipped wit I blaster that allows you to control set top box connected onto TV with Sony’s remote.

Conclusion

As mentioned, Sony X930D and Samsung KS8000 are serious HDR TVs that offer great HDR performance. This is indicated by an award by UHD Alliance called Ultra HD Premium Certification that ensures both of them can display HDR 10 fully. This means all display specs that offered by them meet the minimum standardization of HDR 10 set by UHD Alliance. In addition to amazing picture quality, both of them are also good performers in some aspects of 4K home entertainment such as motion control, low input lag for games, attractive smart TV platform. The one major difference between them is about 3D technology where X930D comes with active 3D technology while KS8000 is not equipped with 3D technology. Additionally, the only downsides of them as high class 4K TV is about their poor viewing angle.

So, which is a better choice between them? As mentioned, in the market, X930D series is sold more expensive than KS8000 for every screen available in both of them. We have discussed a lot about their difference and performance and now the decision comes back to you. With all review above, I hope this will help you to decide which one is suitable with your preference. However, before you decide to choose one of them, there are also a lot of opinions from each of their costumers where you can make as your further consideration.

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